Little fox has a secret

LITTLE FOX HAS A SECRET Salla Kurkela

LITTLE FOX HAS A SECRET This story has been created as part of Salla Kurkela’s thesis at the Arcada University of Applied Sciences.

Typeset by: Mikko Kempas ISBN 978-952-5587-65-4 Printed by: © A-Clinic Foundation

LITTLE FOX HAS A SECRET Salla Kurkela

Little Fox is at home, playing with his Daddy. Daddy has promised him that they will play together all evening. It’s so much fun!

5

All of a sudden, Daddy’s phone rings.

Daddy stops playing.

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It’s Daddy’s friend. He asks if Daddy wants to come to a party. Daddy is really happy but Little Fox is very disappointed. Daddy had promised to spend the evening at home!

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Daddy smiles as he waves Little Fox goodbye. Mummy is grumpy at Daddy. She doesn’t want Daddy to go to a party either.

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The rest of the evening drags on and on. It’s so boring.

Mummy Fox is still upset and Little Fox feels sad.

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Little Fox has just climbed into bed and is almost asleep when Daddy Fox comes home from the party.

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Daddy comes in to say good night but Little Fox doesn’t want him to get close.

Daddy is acting weird and smells funny.

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Mummy hears what’s going on and gets out of bed.

Mummy and Daddy start arguing really loudly.

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Mummy Fox and Daddy Fox are screaming and shouting. Little Fox is sad and frightened. He hides under his covers and puts his paws over his ears.

He doesn’t want to hear it but it’s too loud.

Little Fox barely sleeps all night.

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The next morning, Little Fox is really tired. As he’s getting ready for nursery, he realises that Daddy is exhausted too. Daddy is lying on the living room sofa, snoring, even though it’s getting late.

Little Fox doesn’t make it to nursery on time.

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At nursery, Little Fox is feeling very strange.

He is grumpy, then sad, then really really happy and then angry and wild.

Now his head is sore and he feels tired and restless.

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But then Teacher Fox comes over to chat. “Listen, little one,” Teacher Fox says, “is there something on your mind? You seem a little bit sad today. Do you want to tell me why you’re upset?”

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And Little Fox explains. About how upsetting it is when Daddy doesn’t keep his promises. About how sad he gets when Daddy drinks. About how horrible it is when Mummy and Daddy argue at night. Teacher Fox listens to what Little Fox has to say.

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When Little Fox has finished speaking, Teacher Fox gives him a big cuddle. “You are so brave for telling me all these things,” Teacher Fox says. “The drinking and the fighting are not your fault. It’s OK for you to feel sad and scared. But you are not alone! I want to help you. You can come and talk to me whenever you want.”

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Little Fox feels much better after talking to Teacher Fox. It’s like a great big weight has been lifted off his shoulders. It feels good not to have such a big secret any more.

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To find out more about the Fragile Childhood project and to access our resources, please visit www.lasinenlapsuus.fi/en

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Little Fox’s evening goes wrong when Daddy Fox gets invited to party.

All sorts of trouble ensues. What would make Little Fox feel better?

Little Fox Has a Secret can be used in the early childhood education setting to facilitate discussions about alcohol use and other difficult issues at home.